Let's start with a introduce, tell me who you are and so on, what you play in the band etc?
Pekka: Pekka, I play guitar and do some backing vocals also
Olli: Olli - I play guitar
Heikki: I am the bad ass bass player
Joonas: I try to scream as hard as I can..
Olli: Markus plays the drums but he's not here with us today
Pekka: he's gone
Heikki: RIP
Olli: hahah
Pekka: Markus had an alcohol poisoning in Puntala with No Heroes
You've been around for a good bunch of years now, how and when Worth The Pain was started?
Olli: Ever since I started going to hardcore shows in my hometown Lappeenranta I wanted to have my own band. That was the late 90s. I met Pekka, was it '99? He was playing drums at that time so we started looking for other members.
Pekka: 98.
Olli: Oh, ok. It was only in 2001 when we had a stable line-up and enough skills to make songs and actually record anything. Our first demo came out in December 2001. We had a bit of a different line-up back then.
Who was in the original line up by the way?
Olli: As mentioned, Pekka was playing the drums. Then we had me and Jermu on guitars and Joonas and Ola on vocals.
Pekka: We didn't have a bass player then.
Olli: Vesku Hellsten was helping us out on bass at that point.
Pekka: The shows in 2002, we had Vesku Hellsten and later Häkki from Cutdown and Black Betsy playing the bass.
How went those shows, what you think about the first shows and the demo now?
Olli: The first shows we're really good. A lot of people seemed to like what we were doing.
Pekka: I really liked the first two shows in 2002, Roosterfest in Lahti and the one in our hometown, good response.
Olli: I can't even listen to the first demo anymore. What can I say, we were just starting. Actually it could've been better but the guy who recorded the demo clearly didn't do a very good job and the sound is quite horrible.
Joonas: and my vocals ..uh.
Pekka: retired roger miret.
Heikki: I didn't know these guys, except Ola at that time, but I thought it was cool there were new hardcore band in Lappeenranta that didn't have the same members as all the other LPR hardcore bands.
Olli: Yeah. Although the scene was strong in Lappeenranta at that point, still there we're only a few people playing in bands. None of us had really been in any real bands before Worth The Pain. Well Ola had a punk rock band before he joined our band.
Heikki: but he was playing guitar in his former bands.
Pekka: yeah
Joonas: I really don't remember anything about that show.
Pekka: I remember some technical difficulties at the turku show, and I had to drive back home to my grandfather’s funeral so not much of a party, hahah. but the first shows gave us really good self confidence.
So how you came familiar with hardcore and tell something about Lappeenranta back from the days you got into the scene?
Olli: My first hardcore show ever was Blood For Blood and The Bruisers in Lappeenranta in 98.
Heikki: I started to listen punk rock when I was 12 or something, then few years later I found hardcore and then we went to the Arkangel show and I'm still on that path.
Joonas: I found hardcore through skateboarding. I don't remember the first show I went to.. but I think it was in 97.
Olli: A lot of foreign hardcore bands came to Finland those days. I got to see a lot of awesome bands in Lappeenranta those days. BFB, Bruisers, All Out War, Arkangel, E-Town Concrete, Cold As Life... It was amazing.
Pekka: it all comes down to Bad Religion for me, I started listening to them when I was like 12 years old, there were some shows in Lappeenranta that time, 1996-1997 but I didn't knew anyone so I never went there, hah, All Out War and E-Town Concrete played in Lappeenranta 1999 so that was the first show for me
Heikki: Yeah skateboarding and music were very important things when I was a teenager.
Pekka: another one dead and down my throat convinced me also, so they boosted the passion to play something alike
Olli: Yeah the Finnish bands we're also an inspiration. DMT, Bolt, AOD, etc. I was listening to punk rock and metal as a kid and then started listening to bands like Earth Crisis and Hatebreed in late 90s.
Pekka: I also came familiar with Earth Crisis and Hatebreed as a teenager, but also Shai Hulud and Poison The Well made an impact
Joonas: One of the first bands for me where ec, boiling point, turmoil and strife...
What like shows were like in LPR back then and how was the whole finnish scene back then, apparently shitloads smaller than nowdays?
Olli: I think the scene was really good back then too. It's hard to compare how big or small it was cause at first I only went to the local shows. I didn’t know a lot people back then so it was new and scary in a fascinating way, hah. But it has grown bigger for sure. Full House 10 years party was at Nosturi and there was something like 800 kids if I’m not mistaken.
So it's pretty clear how Worth The Pain became to play metallic hardcore, your personal influences seem to be pretty similar?
Olli: There are some similar influences like Earth Crisis and the Finnish bands but I think everyone in our band has their own favorites too. I guess that's why our style has evolved to something special. But when we were starting, it was clear to us we're gonna play metallic hardcore.
Pekka: and it hasn't changed since.
But how you think that the music has changed on your releases, from demo to the full-length? also how it's changed when comparing Sacrifices and To The Bitter End?
Olli: It sounds like a totally different band if you ask me. But there are some similarities of course since there are the same quys writing the songs. The vocals are the main reason why it sounds so different I think. Ola left the band and Joonas has a totally different style of screaming these days. Also I like to believe the song-writing has evolved since the first demo.
Heikki: I think its natural development. I think we have focused more on the songwriting process. try to think that there would be different type of songs and parts.
Pekka: To The Bitter End has more hooks and it keeps things much interesting, the material on Sacrifices wouldn't work as a full-length, so it was wise to keep it short, hehe. now it's a nice package.
Olli: If you compare Sacrifices and To The Bitter End I think the style is quite the same. But the songs, recording and vocals are all better on To The Bitter End.
Joonas: vocals on TTBE are much much better....
Pekka: more relaxed.
Olli: There are always people who think the first demo was the best but come on...It's not.
How you think you've changed your singing between the releases, Joonas?
Joonas: uuuhh.. between Sacrifices and TTBE I just learned how to use my voice.
Heikki: I think you have to learn some more hahaha....
Joonas: that's true.. there's always autotune..
But for real, how you think that you'd bring further your songs, what new there will be on next release or do you think there has to be something new?
Olli: The day we start using clean vocals I quit.
Pekka could sing some good clean vox on the backups…
Joonas: that's true maybe we'll try it.
Pekka: some synths also.
Joonas: uuuh that would be cool.
Joonas: some make up???
Next album is WTP gone Gothic then.
Pekka: gone fishing.
Olli: I think the songs are gonna be more interesting in the future. More variation. But that doesn't mean we are changing the style. It’s gonna be in the same vein as To The Bitter End.
Ok, let's talk a bit more about the new album To The Bitter End, was the birth process easy? You also said that this time everything sounds proper, what's been the problem on the last album?
Olli: Well I think there wasn't any real problems with the last CD. We've just progressed with our instruments so it sounds more solid. And Vesa from Another One Dead was engineering and mixing. That guy knows what he's doing and how we wanna sound. The birth process wasn't that easy. We made a promo CD in late 2006 with the intention to record the full-length pretty early in 2007. But then we got a new drummer, Markus, in early 2007 so we had to learn all the songs again. And make some new ones too. But with this current line-up things have gone really smoothly. So we started recording in August 2007.
How the releasing arrangements came up?
Olli: You mean Full House & Fast Rock Factory?
Heikki: I remember Sirvo from Full House Records was excited about our show in Torvi and we gave him a promo
Olli: Yeah, Lahti in fall 2007. I guess he was impressed by that one.
Pekka: yeah and he lost the promo because he was so wasted.
Olli: Yeah, hahah. So I sent him the songs later on again. Also Fast Rock Factory showed interest so the two labels decided to release the CD together. We're really honored to be on Full House and Fast Rock Factory. I've always respected Full House Records for the work they've done for Finnish hardcore. It was unbelievable to play at their 10th anniversary show this spring.
So what about the LP version of To The Bitter End. how Joonas came up with idea to put it out yourself?
Joonas: It's just because I love vinyl records and there was no one else to do it. DIY ya know.
What kinda feedback you have gotten from the album this far?
Joonas: someone said it sounds like pantera at it's worst.. so it's all positive.. hehe.
Olli: The feedback from the hardcore audience has been pretty good. Some more mainstream media didn't really like it that much you know. They think all the songs sound the same. I guess the clean vocals would've helped on that one, hahah...
Pekka: too punk for the metal kids, too metal for the punk kids since 2001.
Joonas: the way I like it.
Olli: Yeah. That's how it goes with this band. Can't please everyone. But that's not the point either. Otherwise I wouldn't be playing in a hardcore band, hah.
And how have the shows been after the release?
Pekka: I think they're getting better all the time.
Heikki: I've enjoyed a lot all the shows we've played this year.
Olli: The last two shows have been one of the most fun shows I've ever played. One in a crappy bar in Helsinki (RIP Factory) and the other one at LPRHC Summerfest.
What about your recent tour? how it went and tell something what happened during the tour?
Pekka: well, the tour in europe was just what you would expect from your first trip there, not much people but good response and it seems we're going back soon.
Olli: We went to Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden, 5 shows in total. There weren't that many people at all the shows but it went really good considering it was our first tour outside Finland. There are so many bands going to that part of Europe all the time so people over there are really spoiled. They don't care about an unknown Finnish band. But it was fun nevertheless.
Pekka: good practice for the next trips.
Joonas: yeah i love tripping.
Joonas: oh I mean touring. hhehe.
Pekka: kari grandi and the trips.
Heikki: I think one important thing was that no one got angry at each other, although it was a short tour, it showed that we get along very well as a group, and hopefully someday we are touring much more.
Did something weird happen during the tour, did you get to play with any good bands?
Joonas: yeah we played with Ignite and arm wrestled with zoli.
Pekka: how many jaws do you pull zoli.
Olli: The show in Sweden was at Treasurefest so there was a lot of bigger bands too. Death Before Dishonor, Ignite, etc. Sirens was a really good live band at one of the German shows.
Did you go to gym with Zoli or maybe in to sauna?
Joonas: no he was too afraid of my triceps.
Shit, Zoli afraid, that's really something!
Olli: I also liked Violence Approved, cheers to those guys.
Pekka: violins approved.
How you see hardcore scene in the coutries you toured and how it's different when you think scene here?
Olli: I think someone said they have bands like Sick Of It All or Madball playing in The Netherlands something like 4 times a year. That's something the Finns aren't used to.
What you think about Finland's scene, was it much different back then when you first started to going into shows?
Joonas: I don't think its actually that much different but they really have more great bands comming over there.
Olli: I think the scene might be a bit more divided in Germany than in Finland. But it's such big country it's no wonder.
Cause in Finland everyone knows each other. But it didn't really look that different over there than in Finland. Although a lot of young kids in Sweden, way more than in Finland.
Heikki: yeah, and they're all sxe.
Olli: ...for a year or two.
Heikki: yep.
Olli: I believe there are a lot more all ages shows in Sweden than in Finland. That might have something to do with it.
What you think about the state of Finnish bands, tell me some of you'r favorites?
Pekka: I guess Bolt is hitting the hardest nowadays, but also new bands like No Heroes and Eye For All have given very good vibes at their shows.
Olli: My all time favorites are Down My Throat (RIP), Bolt and Another One Dead. Some newer bands I like are Third Man Down, Eye For All and No Heroes to name a few.
Heikki: I think there is lots of good quality bands here in Finland.
Joonas: My all time favorites.. DMT and SECURITY THREAT... what else do I need to say.
Pekka: on a solid rock you need to say.
Joonas: ok.
You guys have also few side projects / other bands going on, little information about all of them?
Pekka: Me and Heikki recorded 10 songs last week with One Hidden Frame, so there's a new one coming out sometime.
Olli: No One Is Safe. It's in the same vein as WTP but with two vocalists. Also it's more straightforward and there's more Bulldoze influences, haha.
Heikki: I also play in No One Is Safe.
Pekka: None Would Remain is releasing also a full-length soon, so our other bands are quite active also.
Olli: Yeah, I play drums in None Would Remain. Looking forward to the full length. It's gonna be called Wake The Living.
Pekka: One Hidden Frame plays melodic punk rock, but the influences vary widely, think of a mixture of Propagandhi and Boysetsfire.
And for Worth The Pain, what's up with the band next, more touring or something new to release?
Olli: We hope to release a seven inch this year. It might be a split with another band, we'll see.
Is Turn & Run gonna put that out?
Olli: Thug Free Records from Finland is gonna release that one, possibly with some other labels. It's not certain yet.
I think this is it, hit up hello's and playlist etc. etc. and thank you for the interview very much?
Joonas: To all the kids out there stay away from venom (the band), it's evil.
Pekka: Playlist Descendents I Don't Wanna Grow Up & Turmoil: The Process of.
Olli: Playlist: Cannibal Corpse - Tomb of the Mutilated & the new End Begins & Breamgod songs on Building A Legacy 2 comp.
1 comments:
Thanks for the interview Markus! It was a hassle, haha.
I notice we didn't mention that our drummer Markus also plays in No Heroes. Check that band out, good shit: http://www.myspace.com/viimosetpaevat
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